Take Flight (Book 4 of 4) (Scomiche)

Without You

Mitch's POV

Guilt settled in my chest as I thought about Scott and I's conversation. He was having problems with alcohol and I completely called him out on it. He had gotten better and I threw it right back in his face. All because he was out of my reach. All because I couldn't have him.

That kiss had saved me. He wasn't trying to be a hero. He was crying with me that night and he did it because...he wanted to save me. Because I was his best friend and I tried to leave him.

I sat up in bed and pulled my phone out. It was almost nine in the morning now and he hadn't tried to get in touch with me again. I slipped out of bed and decided to go speak to him. Our friendship depended on it.

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I showered and dressed quickly before I started towards his room. I knocked and he answered almost immediately. He was dressed differently and when he saw me his face twisted with emotion.

"Can we talk?" I asked him quickly, anxious to get in his room.

"Sure..." He said. He blocked the entrance to his room and made me stand in the hallway. He looked less than eager to let me in.

"I didn't mean to call you out." I told him, my voice sounding foreign to myself as I spoke. "Scott I didn't know what I was thinking."

His expression remained hard and he didn't tear his eyes away from me once. I felt myself starting to panic. He looked like he was trying to figure something out about me and it was making me uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry." I finally said as my eyes began to fill with tears. I looked just down enough away from him so I wouldn't have to see the anger on his face any longer.

He disappeared for a moment. "Wait here." He shut the door. I wiped my eyes as I waited for him. The two longest minutes of my life.

When he came back out he had his shoes on and he was shoving his phone and his wallet into his pocket. He closed his hotel room door behind him as he stepped into the hallway and pointed towards the elevator.

"Let's go out. We'll get coffee. We can talk..." He offered. He wasn't smiling but his face was softer and more forgiving now.

I nodded before he started to lead me away. In the elevator we stood about a foot apart and unexpectedly he put his hand on my arm. I looked up to him but he was watching the floors go down slowly. I moved closer to him so he could wrap his arm around my shoulders. He gave a small laugh and gave me a quick hug against him.

The elevator doors opened and he let me go out first. As we walked outside, I looked up to him to see his smile had returned. I couldn't help but smile myself as we made our way outside.

The coffee shop wasn't far down the busy street our hotel was on. Once we were inside and seated with our drinks, things became stressful again.

He stared down at the plastic cup that held his iced coffee as he stared the straw mindlessly. I know he was trying to come up with something to say as was I.

I finally leaned forward a bit and put my hand on his arm. His eyes flicked up to mine. "I said things last night I didn't mean to say." I tapped his arm with my fingers as I tried to piece my words together. "We were both in bad places that night. I'm just in my own head too busy thinking about me rather than you...I know you weren't doing well either and I wasn't exactly there for you."

"Mitch you were a lot worse off than I was..."

"That doesn't matter...you're my best friend and I wasn't there to help you either."

He thought for a moment. "So we both suck?" He asked and I couldn't help but start laughing.

"Yeah, I guess we do." I laughed.